THE SPIRIT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENT Erasmus Project

Project Title

THE SPIRIT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENT

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Energy and resources; Natural sciences; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

Context
Environmental issues are being studied since primary school, because at this level students have a holistic view of the environment. It is easier to develop critical thinking at primary school level (Greek schoola nd Turkish school are) addressing environmental issues; this is essential for pupils to learn about identifying and solving environmental problems so that later students become responsible citizens and perhaps decision-makers.
During the project interdisciplinary activities were conducted, during classroom classes and campaigns were held in the local community also through short flashmobs, to make students aware they also have responsibilities, and the voice that can influence decisions in their communities.
The partners shared experiences and work from one another, to make the project have the impact in our schools , among our colleagues and in our local communities.The EE approach in each of the five regions involved our curriculums and influenced our teaching and lessons planning.Our most relevant objectives were:
O1. Exchange of environmental practices and experiences among teachers of European partners
O2. Developing appropriate digital materials for interdisciplinary teaching of EE
O3. Improving students’ environmental awareness
O4. Developing Individual and social responsibility of students
O5. Strengthen the role of the school in local communities
O6. Promoting active citizenship and social responsibility
Participants
We proposed 5 LTTAs, with teams of 4 teachers from each partner school. A total of 5 mobilities were planned but one didn’t took place because of Covid-19 emergency; though, teachers worked in classes and with their pupils about the topic.The teachers participated are primary school lecturers, IT teachers, science and languages teachers and other disciplines.

Activities
Teachers collaborated on the Etwinning platform and Google G suite platforms,, being privacy issues very strict in some countries and some schools, e.g. the coordinator’s one. Different materials were published on the schools’ web pages. Participating teachers exchanged ideas on interdisciplinary environmental lessons to which students took part and through which they learned to be active citizens. The lessons took place in the presence of the participating teachers (also to the online ones) who analyzed them at the end. Each LTTA hold meetings with local NGOs to discuss environmental issues in the local area, cultural visits, interdisciplinary teaching workshops, and information on the methodology of organizing a local environmental campaign with students were exchanged among teachers
Meeting topics:
C1 – sharing EE practices and experiences; workshops on inter-curricular approaches to EE teaching
C2 – Water – scientific approach (data, experiments), source of life, lack of water, water pollution
C3 – Earth – the theoretical approach, land-related problems, deforestation, endangered animal and plant species
C4 – Air – scientific approach, air pollution, greenhouse effect, global warming, acid rain
C5- dropped because of Covid-19 emergency
C6- virtual mobility – Teacher virtual meetings, exchange of good practices, exchange and evaluation of EE lessons’ plans

Results
The project produced tangible and intangible results.
Intangible results: Greater awareness of the environment and social responsibility of primary and secondary school pupils, greater awareness of the similarities and differences between systems and educational approaches, improving language skills and critical thinking, improving teamwork skills, making new european friendship; as pupils were hosted by families, improving autonomy, meeting new cultures, growing awareness of similarities and differences among european family habits and cultures
Tangible results: digital lessons, material on the three environmental topics, improved methodology, greater students involvement in environmental protection campaigns,school presentations, tips for lessons planning, materials for workshops in the project, students’ final products, lesson evaluation forms, other pedagogical materials, students’ artworks
(mascotte), brochures, posters, reports, photos and films.

Effect
Project partners used the lessons produced and loaded on the Twinspace platform during EE courses throughout the project but also after it is completed, which means that the material basis of the schools will improve. Teachers developed new courses for students using the materials produced in this project. EE lessons created are more attractive to students because they contain digital elements, are made by students for students and feel more motivated to learn. Students developed a sense of initiative and played an active role in their community. Students alongside teachers organized environmental awareness campaigns and they will still organize in the future, turning active citizenship into a common practice at school level.

Project Website

https://twinspace.etwinning.net/73367/home

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 153071,23 Eur

Project Coordinator

Istituto comprensivo Falcone Borsellino & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Scoala Gimnaziala Nicolae Titulescu
• ALIBEYKOY ORTAOKULU
• Osnovna sola Cvetka Golarja
• 45th Primary School of Patras